This 2.5-hour Brussels Free Tour will show you all the top attractions in the old city. Local experts will take you to must-see spots such as iconic Grand Place, the Mannekin Pis and the birthplace of everyone’s favourite comic adventurer, Tintin. Join us as we explore the political capital of Europe the way Brussels was meant to be seen; by walking along ancient royal buildings, through the cobblestone streets and up the hills to the museum quarter.
Your Brussels Free Tour starts daily in front of the tower of City Hall on Grand Place/Grote Markt and finishes by Mont des Arts. Navigating this trilingual city can be daunting, even for the most experienced traveler, which is why SANDEMANs NEW Brussels is here to help!
From the heart of trade to the centre of politics
Brussels today might be known as the political powerhouse of Europe, but it got its start as a trade capital.
Despite being occupied by Germany in both World War I and II, the city remained relatively undamaged. After the war, Brussels underwent extensive modernisation and is now home of many international institutions, making it one of the most important cities in Europe. We lead you through the winding streets and discover the sites of the beginnings of the city over 1,500 years ago.
Brussels comic art scene
No other country has produced more comic artists than Belgium – Tintin, Spike and Suzy and the Smurfs are all created by Belgian artists. Get a brief insight into the history of comic art in Brussels and even see your favourite characters painted on the sides of buildings!
Free Tour concept
The tips-based model of the Free Tour allows guests to support and reward only the highest quality tours, to ensure that the tour fits within their expectations, and within their budget.
The Brussels Free Tour starts in front of the tower of City Hall on Grand Place/Grote Markt
Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Grand Place and Town Hall
Learn about the history of Brussels at the Maison du Roi
See the 217 year old Stock Exchange building
Window shop at Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Giggle at the Belgian humour of the Manneken Pis statue
Visit the La Monnaie, home to the National Opera of Belgium
See the oldest church in Brussels, Saint Nicholas’ Church
Find the library and Nation Archives found in the Mont des Arts
Discover Brussels’ comic art scene
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
PHOTOS
The emblematic Grand Place (Grote Markt), where the Free Tour starts
The famous Manneken Pis
Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Mont des Arts
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local English-speaking guide
What’s not included
Gratuities for the guide (optional)
Additional Information
Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
Wheelchair accessible
MAP
The Free Tour starts in front of the tower of City Hall, Grand PlaceOpen in Google Maps
Mont des Arts
Grand Place
Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert
Manneken Pis
La Monnaie De Munt
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St. Nicholas Church
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Customer reviews
This is honestly something I would recommend to everyone visiting Brussels for the first time. Frazer the Scot, was an absolute peach. First of all he is extremely knowledgeable and noticeably passionate and interested in everything he has to say about Brussels and its history. Overall he made a 3-hour walking tour very interactive, fun, informative and it went by so quickly that even after going through most of the must sees of Brussels, we still had loads of time to check out all the great food tips he gave us during the walk! 10/10 would recommend it and do it again!
Free walking tour of Brussels We did a walking tour with Fraiser today. The guy was fantastic, witty, knew a lot about the city, its history, customs... We were very much entertained and would recommend it to anyone. Great job!
We had the lovely Adrian as our tour guide. He was incredibly informative about the beautiful city of Brussels and even recommended the best places to get waffles and fries. He was very funny too, so it was never awkward with him. He made sure we were all okay and were having a good time on the tour. Would 100% recommend to others!
Our guide was super fun, the kind of sense of humour that I really enjoy and very knowledgeable about his country. Everybody enjoyed his enthusiasm and we learnt so much from him. We visited a lot of places and took a break to grab a beer at a bar. In the end, we got together with some other people and went for dinner. Such a good time. Should definitely check this walking tour out.
Me and my parents did a tour with Peter and I would absolutely recommend it: It was great, informative, very fun and never boring. I definitely feel like we've learned important things about the city, the country and its culture. We've tried some of Peter's tips regarding beer and waffles and we are glad we did, we're some happy clams!
We thoroughly enjoyed the free walking tour with Peter. He was very enthusiastic and was a great storyteller. I wish we had more time to do another tour with him.
We (family with 2 teenagers) booked a tour and had Peter as our guide. He is so funny and enthusiastic. We are Dutch but the children understood everything. Highly recommended.
The Free Tour is the best introduction to Brussels! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2.5 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Brussels' best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.
Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
The route covers many of Brussels' major landmarks
The meeting point is centrally located in the Grand Place (or Grote Markt)
The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time
The SANDEMANs Free Tour runs every day, all year round
Enjoy a comprehensive overview of the fascinating history of Brussels and visit all the must-see sit ...
Info & Booking € -
Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
We are gradually reopening cities across our network, and running most of our tours with limited availability.For more information about our tours running in English, and for an overview of the safety, health and wellbeing measures we're taking for our staff, guide partners and valued guests, visit the link below
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